School board member wants to televise meetings

By Amanda Memrick

Published: Monday, April 15, 2013 at 10:50 PM.

“I think that’s a bad idea. That’s money we could pay a teacher,” said school board member David Phillips. “Why do we need to be televised, Mr. Howell? I don’t need an audience. I don’t need an audience for what I do. I think it’s a waste of money, and I think it’s unnecessary.”

Chairman Kenny Lutz didn’t like the idea of going away from the board room and into the courthouse. When board members ask a question to staff, often they can run to their offices and get the information to provide an answer. That wouldn’t be possible at another location, he said.

School board member Dot Guthrie said staff members can’t always answer questions at meetings, pointing out that one school board member’s question Monday night required a cabinet member to find the information and report back at the next meeting.

“I’m not saying I’m closed-minded. I don’t really like it,” Phillips said. “And if somebody watches the commissioners, with all due respect, I’d tell them to get a life.”

Superintendent Reeves McGlohon said he would look into the costs of televising meetings and provide some figures at the school board’s next meeting on Monday. The superintendent’s budget request sought $11.18 million more than last year’s request to county commissioners. The increase would add technology, teacher assistants, pay local supplements, pay for certified staff of Stuart W. Cramer High, expand the literacy program and expand the L.E.A.P program, a program designed to reduce the number of youth in the court system.

The request would mean school leaders seeking about $52.7 million in local funds. County commissioners have approved about $41.5 million in operating expenses for the school system for the past two years.

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.

A school board member wants to add about $15,000 to Gaston County Schools’ budget request to televise board meetings.

It costs $865 to broadcast two hours of a meeting at the Gaston County Courthouse’s public forum room, said school board member Chris Howell.

Gaston County Commissioners and Gastonia City Council both broadcast their meetings there.

“There’s a certain amount of accountability that we owe the stakeholders,” Howell said.

Parents who are interested in topics at school board meetings can’t always be in the audience because they’re attending a ball game or have a busy schedule.

“I don’t always get to go to a county commissioners meeting, but I can watch it on TV, as many times as my heart’s desire with a DVR, and I do on certain things that I’m interested in,” Howell said. “This budget discussion is one thing I think people would be interested in seeing.

Howell’s idea was met with skepticism from some school board members.

“I think that’s a bad idea. That’s money we could pay a teacher,” said school board member David Phillips. “Why do we need to be televised, Mr. Howell? I don’t need an audience. I don’t need an audience for what I do. I think it’s a waste of money, and I think it’s unnecessary.”

Chairman Kenny Lutz didn’t like the idea of going away from the board room and into the courthouse. When board members ask a question to staff, often they can run to their offices and get the information to provide an answer. That wouldn’t be possible at another location, he said.

School board member Dot Guthrie said staff members can’t always answer questions at meetings, pointing out that one school board member’s question Monday night required a cabinet member to find the information and report back at the next meeting.

“I’m not saying I’m closed-minded. I don’t really like it,” Phillips said. “And if somebody watches the commissioners, with all due respect, I’d tell them to get a life.”

Superintendent Reeves McGlohon said he would look into the costs of televising meetings and provide some figures at the school board’s next meeting on Monday. The superintendent’s budget request sought $11.18 million more than last year’s request to county commissioners. The increase would add technology, teacher assistants, pay local supplements, pay for certified staff of Stuart W. Cramer High, expand the literacy program and expand the L.E.A.P program, a program designed to reduce the number of youth in the court system.

The request would mean school leaders seeking about $52.7 million in local funds. County commissioners have approved about $41.5 million in operating expenses for the school system for the past two years.

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.